Lady luck initially deserted Walter Smith's Scotland, but then returned to prevent a truly awful score line. As early as the 6th minute, disaster struck for Scotland as the ball bounced off Darren Fletcher and flew into the penalty area where Vitali Kutuzov drilled it past a static Craig Gordon.

Not the sort of start a packed Hampden Park was expecting following Scotland's recent fine performances, it could have got so so much worse, and but for some profligate finishing from Belarus, the score could easily have been 3-0 or 4-0 to the visitors.

After the initial shock of being quite literally over run, Scotland did start to get themselves back into the game, but were happy to go in to the break trailing by just the one goal.

Obviously Walter Smith must have put the proverbial boot in at half time, because the 'Brave Hearts' emerged as that, brave in the tackle and looking a yard faster than they had done earlier, finally playing with the passion that Smith sought from them.

There now followed a string of missed chances so beloved of Scotland of old. Celtic's Maloney who had been introduced at half-time, ran on to a headed flick-on from Lee McCulloch only for the ball to get caught under his feet allowing the Belarus defence to crowd him out near the penalty spot.Maloney went agonisingly close soon after when his awkward overhead kick from close range was blocked by McCulloch, who lay prone on the goal-line.

Miller then squandered a glorious chance when he broke clear of the Belarus defence only to shoot over the crossbar from 12 yards with only the goalkeeper to beat. Khomutovsky was at full-stretch to push away a curling free kick from Maloney and no Scotland player could reach the loose ball.

Belarus regained their composure after surviving Scotland's good spell of pressure and Kutuzov passed up chances on the break before Vitaly Bulyga hit the post with the goal at his mercy.The final ten minutes saw Scotland piling bodies forward but the ball would not fall the way of the home side.

Miller almost snatched a goal in the dying minutes but Khomutovsky did well to advance and block the striker's effort.The chill wind that started to blow as the home fans exited, was almost indicative of the day, lots of bluster, but cold comfort.

On this day in particular, the true gravitas of his country's football decline, was laid firmly on the shoulders of the renaissance man of Scottish football, Walter Smith.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati